Taxonomic hierarchy

Hello everyone,

Today I will be writing about Taxonomic hierarchy

The taxonomic hierarchy is a method of grouping together living organisms that share common features. The basis of the system in use today was formulated by Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus .

The hierarchy starts with the largest groups and goes down to specific species.They are also known as Linnaean hierarchy.

The different methods used to identify and classify organisms are referred to Taxonomic aids. Identification of organisms is a tedious process. Keys are used for identification referred as Taxonomic key. It includes a long table of statements with alternative features to identify organisms. The features which are related to organism are chosen.

The hierarchy has two categories which are obligate and intermediate. Obligate means they are followed strictly and range from kingdom to species as said above. Intermediate are not followed strictly and they are added in obligate list such as subdivision, super family, super class, suborder, subspecies etc.

Domains are a relatively new grouping. The three-domain system was first proposed in 1990, but not generally accepted until later. One main characteristic of the three-domain method is the separation of Archaea and Bacteria, previously grouped into the single kingdom Bacteria . Consequently, the three domains of life are conceptualized as Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryota (comprising the nuclei-bearing eukaryotes) 

Kingdom: The top most taxonomic category. Example all animals are included in Kingdom animalia. The unit in classification that denotes grouping of organism based on features which are observable is known as Taxon.

Phylum:  It is a collection of similar classes. Classes having at least a few characters in common 

Class: One or more than one order makes a class. Class mammalia includes all mammals which are bats, rodents, kangaroos, whales, great apes and man.

Order: One or more than one similar families constitute order. 

Family: It is defined as collection of similar genera which exhibit a number  of characteristics among them. It can be separated from genera by reproductive and vegetative features.

Genus: It is defined as group of similar species having common characteristics

Species:It is the basic unit of Classification in which all individuals are alike in morphological and reproductive characters, so that they are able to interbreed freely and produce fertile offspring.

Here's a simple mnemonic 

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